TravelPod Member ReviewsPod 51 Hotel New York City

“ fantastic little find! ”

Reviewed Apr 28, 2011

by kirstyp83 (10 reviews) , United Kingdom

was a bit worried about the Pod being too small and shared bathrooms but was really pleasantly suprised. the room was a bunk room and the bunks were comfortable, sturdy and had their own TVs. Sink in the room was nice and they provide towels, JUST enough room to rest 2 cases but we only wanted a base so didnt need more space.
Quite alot of noise in the night as the royal wedding got everyone up early in the bars nearby but that was ok, would've liked aircon but I guess it was still winter. Great bathrooms and nice to have lights in the room indicating when they were free. Staff were really helpful and the location was ok too, near rockerfeller and only 20 mins walk from time square. would stay again as a great value base to explore the city.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TravelPod member and not of TravelPod.com.

“ Great Place to stay ”

Reviewed Jan 3, 2011

by nicola_locke (2 reviews) Adelaide Australia , Australia

For anyone looking for an inexpensive funky place to stay, try here. The rooms are small, but hey with a city that never sleeps who needs a large room when there is soooo much to do in NYC. There a big choice of rooms, with bathrooms and without and the shared bathrooms are large and clean. Location is not too bad , a 15 walk from timesquare and there are plenty of small restaurants and bars near the hotel.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TravelPod member and not of TravelPod.com.

Historical Traveler Reviews Pod 51 Hotel New York City

Cramped, but cheap and well located

from Garnier

I stayed in one of the single rooms with no bathroom. There was a sink, which alleviated the bathroom-less condition somewhat. The room and the common bathrooms were antiseptically clean, well scrubbed, but they are so small you need to position your knees carefully to stand up and turn around. These funny little single rooms are the discount at this hotel.

When you get into doubles with bathroom in the room, you begin to get into prices comparable to any other hotel. But if you're a solitary traveler, the $74 rate I paid for one of these bathroom-less single rooms is just about the cheapest in Manhattan, especially considering that the hotel is right in the middle of midtown, surrounded by bars, restaurants, shops and a relatively safe and walkable part of New York.

I lucked out and had quiet neighbors, but it was clear that the rooms lack sound proofing and if you are stuck with yahoos in the next room, you will hear everything they yell, burp and gurgle.

Close to sites

from anonymous

This hotel worked out great! It was walking distance from most of the sites I wanted to see. I was basically looking for a place to sleep, not experience. The internet kiosk was worthless however. The staff was courteous and helpful. Never saw a naked person. ****! Great neighborhood with many good places to eat and drink. Close to the United Nations.

This hotel had some good points and some bad points

from anonymous

This hotel is quite good for a tourist class hotel but there are some areas in which it needs improvement. The hotel lobby is immaculately decorated and has a nice atmosphere and the corridors on the various floors of the hotels are also nicely decorated. The room that I booked was basic but comfortable and I had requested my own private bathroom which was both clean and convenient. The cleaning staff had not bothered to empty the garbage bag in my room prior to my arrival and the water temperature in the bathroom fluctuated between being scalding hot and freezing cold but otherwise the room was quite a good deal. The demeanor of the hotel staff needs improvement -while one or two were courteous and friendly, the others were rude and even hostile and made no effort to be hospitable or friendly. The restaurant connecting on from the hotel was both overpriced and did not provide the best service but there are several good restauruants nearby. All in all this is a good deal and is conveniently located in the city, but there are one or two areas where the hotel can improve significantly

Very Good Value

from anonymous

I enjoyed a small single room with shared bath in November 2002. The room was very small and austere, but comfortable and clean. The shower up the hall was spotless but very tiny - walk in and back out. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The location was first rate. It was a quiet safe neighbourhood near all the major attractions and transportation. For $79 a night Canadian - how could I complain. I only used the room to sleep in anyway. And I didn't see any naked people walking up the hall - as one reviewer put it. I will definitely stay there again.

Don't Pick this one!

from anonymous

DIRTY, RUDE, AND OVERPRICED FOR THE POOR HOTEL STANDARDS! We arrived at this hotel on a very warm (80ish) early October evening to find the lobby, and corridors, of this hotel are not air conditioned. The rooms are so small there are no accommodations for suitcases or valet items. NO WALKING ROOM, WHAT SO EVER!! We found someone elses shoes (a previous occupant of the room) under our bed. It gives an indication of their poor cleaning of the rooms. The desk staff are extremely rude and acted haughty. When I brought it to their attention, they became MORE RUDE! I couldn't leave here fast enough!! Don't waste your money here~

Its good, so long as you don't get your expectations up.

from anonymous

I found this place perfectly acceptable in terms of accomodation, and great in terms of value. I was in New York on business, and found myself in one of the tiny shared shower rooms. Everything was pretty basic, but there was air con, and the showers were clean - although it was best to get in there early rather than later. The staff were helpful to me and, despite what another reviewer said, the place was clean (well, clean enough for me). If you go expecting a cheap, functional hotel then you won't be disappointed. The location is perhaps the best feature of the place - $70 dollars for a room in midtown is fantastic. The decor might not be great, buts its quiet and seems to attract regular people.

Not great, then, but good enough.

Bargain for Price

from anonymous

A quite nice hotel in a fantastic location (East Midtown) and a very good value in such an expensive area. Lobby and building front are quite upscale and impressive. Shared bath rooms can be had for about $70 on the internet, and while small are clean and acceptable. A handfull of bathrooms are located throughout each floor, and while small, they were very clean. I'm usually quite particular about things like that, but I have to admit it's actually a pretty good setup. We use shared baths at work and at the gym dont we..... For me, it's a ridiculously good value in central Manhattan.

Like a Place that Features the Comforts of an Outhouse?

from anonymous

The place sucks. The staff is unfriendly, it's shocking to see naked people wrapped in towels walking to the "public baths" , the rooms are sorry as can be, etc. The only good feature is it is in midtown and the location is good. Let me relate a quick story: My wife is wheelchair bound. As we prepared to leave I was securing her wheelchair in the van that we drove to N.Y. and the doorman came and told us to "move on". Explained that we had been guests and were just preparing to leave and he threatened us with calling a cop if we didn't move on. He left us alone after I threatened him with violence but the impression of the staff was fixed. If you have VERY low standards, by all means stay at the Pickwick Arms. And good luck. Watch out for the roaches.

Give it a miss

from anonymous

This hotel's web site claims that the rooms are stylish and sleekly furnished with internet connections. Not the ones that my friend and I had! The location may be great but the rooms were horrid. We had a room each and shared an interconnecting shower-room. If doing this, you'd better be prepared to hear every noise from the tiny toilet/shower cubicle and for your every noise to be heard. There was no fan, heater, kettle or even clock in the old-fashioned, gloomy, tiny 10'x8' room. When I first saw it I felt like crying! I know it was a tourist class hotel but surely there must be some basic standards. Most definitely I would not stay in this hotel again.

Pickwick Arms - good location

from anonymous

This hotel is well situated for seeing the sights in New York and has a pleasant location near the upper east side. There is a particularly welcome public open space opposite, with tropical foliage creating a cool and shady place to enjoy a coffee from the snack kiosk, or a take away from the excellent deli on the corner of 51st. The foyer and halls look smart - the room however (a single with shared bath in this case) was small and in serious need of a lick of paint - it did not represent particularly good value. The hotels' two restaurants are trendy and loud of an evening (although this did not filter through to the room) You can get a pleasant but somewhat expensive breakfast at one of them - this is not included in the tariff. And as for the advertised roof garden, well don't get too excited - it's a few plastic patio chairs on a concrete square. The tiny bedroom's air conditioning was a much more attractive proposition on a hot Summer's night.

TripAdvisor Reviews Pod 51 Hotel New York City

Excellent

Travel Blogs from New York City

... all! The atmosphere that the Izod Center brings every game especially when Vince Carter steps on the court is unbelievable but I have to say this again the final shot had the arena roaring in screams! Click here to take a look at the video to see the unforgettable shot! Btw... I have tickets for tomorrow nights game against the Chicago Bulls (hope it's just as exciting!